Emily cherished play dates, joys that adults essentially repackaged as dinners or inebriated hangouts, often overshadowed by formality. Emily remembered Daniel groaning at the regimen inherent to tedious gatherings - marked by obligatory smiles, the second guessing, the subtle ‘peacocking’ and social status measuring contests, laughter fueled only once enough alcohol had been consumed to hopefully mimic a freer spirit. However, on this lazy afternoon, Emily’s living room buzzed with the laughter and energy of her closest friends - Lucy, Lily and Nate- the air filled with lightness as the four friends play board games, indulged in idle chatter, or occasional tussles - under the watchful eyes of Sarah. Thomas, conveniently claiming a critical need to run errands 'right now'—definitely not an escape from the youthful chaos after a difficult week at work—had left the house just before the fun began.
As Emily was swept up in the spirit of the playdate, she felt a sudden inspiration strike her. 'Hey, let’s put on some music!' she declared, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement. 'We could have a little dance party!' Lucy, ever the extrovert, clapped her hands excitedly and cheered, 'Yes! Let's do it!' Nate, trying to maintain a cooler demeanor, returned a casual shrug but Emily caught his eyes twinkling with curiosity. Lily, always the cautious one, bit her lip but nodded slowly, a smile creeping onto her face as she warmed up to the idea.
'MOM!' Emily called out, turning towards the kitchen. 'Can we turn on some music? We want to dance!' Sarah’s face lit up at her daughter's enthusiasm as she walked over, a smile spreading. “That’s a fantastic idea, Emily!' she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. 'Let’s dig into our collection and find something that gets everyone moving.'
As Emily sifted through her parents' collection of CDs and cassette tapes, she chuckled softly. In Daniel’s time, media had nearly vanished, replaced by streaming services. Yet, touching an album by hand felt more personal, more special - as if Emily had a deeper connection to the music contained in them. 'Maybe that’s why people still liked vinyls in Daniel’s universe?,' she thought. 'Streaming is handy, but maybe it misses a bit of the human touch?'
As she rifled through the albums, a wave of what could only be explained as nostalgia washed over Emily. Daniel had always had a special affinity for 80s music although he never quite understood why. Perhaps it had been a facet of the typically upbeat rhythms and distinctive instrumentals of the time that spoke to him deeply, stirring a sense of joy and vitality that was otherwise absent in his life by the end.
Unsurprisingly, Emily’s excitement peaked when she spotted a familiar CD—Bon Jovi's greatest hits. It just spoke to her in a way she couldn't explain.
'How about this?' she suggested, her heart racing. Sarah raised an eyebrow, amused. 'Bon Jovi, huh? You’ve got good taste, kiddo. Which song?'
Without a moment’s hesitation, Emily blurted out, 'Living on a Prayer!'; the choice surprising even her as the words left her mouth. For a moment she wondered if she had heard this track before? She was unsure - but the song resonated with a familiarity that felt deeper than her current lifetime—echoes of Daniel's past that she could feel but not explain.
As the opening riff of 'Living on a Prayer' filled the room, Emily felt herself transported. Her feet began tapping instinctively, resonating with the vivacity of the guitars and the intricate chords. The music flowed through her, allowing her to isolate and discern each instrument as it contributed to the harmonious whole. She could almost feel the enthusiasm of the band during the recording—as if she were living in that very moment. Gradually, she began swaying to the rhythm, her movements becoming a dance to the melody - her movements guided by an inner impulse she couldn’t quite identify.
As the chorus neared, adrenaline surged through Emily, the music pulsing with an energy that ignited a profound joy and aliveness within her. It was more than just the song—it was a calling, stirring something deep and profound inside her. As the drums hit their peak, she couldn't contain herself any longer; she grabbed a remote control, using it as her microphone. Taking center stage in the living room, she stood confidently. With a deep, invigorating breath, she belted out, 'Woah, we're halfway there... Woah-oh, livin' on a prayer!' The words poured out, a blend of familiarity and newfound power.
To everyone’s amazement, Emily’s voice soared, carrying the powerful notes with surprising accuracy and emotion that resonated throughout the room. She surprised even herself; she couldn’t remember ever singing like this, yet it felt as if she had always known how. As she surrendered to the music and performance, singing with all her might - her entire being poured into the music, the audience in the room were momentarily stunned into silence, swept up in the power of her voice, before bursting into applause.
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Emily, feeding off the energy of the applause, continued to sing with a passion that surprised even her. She moved around the room with the flair and theatrics of a seasoned performer—throwing her head back, sinking to her knees, and even playfully imitating the smashing of an imaginary guitar. Caught up in the same infectious energy, Sarah laughed as she grabbed a second remote to use as another microphone, joining Emily as a co-singer. Together, they danced and sang around the living room, their laughter mingling with the music in a joyful albeit intriguing cacophony.
Lucy, Lily, and Nate quickly caught the wave of excitement and joined the fun. With a mischievous grin, Lucy commandeered a hairbrush, stepping up as Emily's enthusiastic co-singer. Though a bit off-key, her spirit perfectly harmonized with Emily’s as both girls sang at the top of their lungs. Nate, embracing his latent love for rhythm, became the imaginary drummer. His hands air-drummed with energy, his eyes intensely focused as if on a real drum set. Encouraged by Emily, Lily overcame her shyness and picked up an imaginary air guitar. Her initial hesitation melted away as she strummed with growing confidence, the imaginary chords resonating with her newfound boldness
By the time the song ended, everyone was breathless from laughter and dancing. Emily set the imaginary microphone aside and collapsed backwards onto the carpet with a joyous sigh. One at a time, the other kids followed, tumbling onto her in a heap of giggles and laughter. They formed a cheerful, laughing pile, their shared camaraderie echoing through the room.
Wow, Emily, that was amazing!” Sarah exclaimed, her own chuckles mingling with the fading music as she turned down the stereo. “I didn’t know you could sing like that! Where did you learn to rock out like that??” she asked with a sparkle of curiosity in her eyes, gently extricating each child from the giggling ‘puppy pile’.
Emily shrugged, unsure herself where this sudden talent had sprung from. 'It just came to me. I guess I really like the song?' she replied.
'Well, you've definitely got a future in music if you want,' Sarah replied giving Emily a high five.
As they settled down, catching their breath, Lucy, still brimming with energy, started play dancing again, possibly eager to keep the session going. 'That was so much fun! We should do this more often.' Lily, smiling and enthusiastic, nodded vigorously in agreement, while Nate, although having clearly enjoyed himself, feigned 'oh, if we must' nod with a lopsided grin.
Emily nodded, feeling a deep sense of joy and connection. Sharing her love for music, a love she didn’t realize she had till this moment, and seeing her friends and mother enjoy it too made her feel ecstatic as she added yet another joyous memory to her life.
—
That night at dinner, Emily and Sarah excitedly recounted the day’s adventures, while Thomas watched his wife and daughter with a mix of pride and curiosity. 'You both really got into it, huh?' he commented with a smile. 'Em, it sounds like you were the star of the show. I didn’t know you liked music so much! And Bon Jovi? Man, am I proud of you,' he added.
'Maybe next time I should join in,' he suggested with a wink. 'I used to play the guitar myself, you know?' His light-hearted suggestion was met with laughter, but as he looked at Emily’s bright, thoughtful face, he sensed there was more going on beneath her excited exterior. Dismissing it as just childlike enthusiasm and part of her growing up, he set aside his fleeting concerns, determined to join the next karaoke session wherever or whenever it may be.
—
That night, Emily lay sprawled on her bed, the excitement of the day still flowing and buzzing through her. She smiled at the ceiling, replaying the joyful scenes in her mind—the music, the laughter, her friends, and her mother dancing. She relived the thrill of dancing, of being the performer, of bringing her loved ones together in harmony. As sleep took over, her vivid daydreams morphed into a deeper dream. There she was again, belting 'Living on a Prayer' once more, but now among a group of adult friends. Their faces strangely familiar and dear, as though she had known them forever. She laughed heartily, grabbed the microphone and engaged in theatrics, immersed in the connection, but as she raised a glass in a toast, her reflection in the shiny stopped her—it was Daniel staring back at her.
Startled, Emily awoke with a jolt, her heart pounding, enveloped by a familiar dread. For a moment, she was petrified—what had she just experienced? Was this memory real, or had she been temporarily transported to Daniel’s universe? Or was it merely a dream? She realized that something had changed within her - and was continuing to change. Until that moment to this point, she had accepted her identity in this world fully contemplating its origins.
As Emily lay there, another memory surfaced—a memory that wasn't hers but felt intimately connected to her. She recalled Daniel, the weight of exhaustion pulling him under, and then the abrupt, disorienting awakening in a new body—her body. This recollection sent a shiver through her. Had her entire existence started from someone else's end? Was that moment, that transition her beginning, or merely a continuation?
The thought haunted her, amplifying her fear as she wrestled with the implications of her dual existence. 'Am I Emily? Am I Daniel? Am I a continuation of something? Or is this life uniquely mine?' she wondered, fear tingling at the edge of her consciousness.